any way we could work in? Oh! think quick, please, or, it'll be too
late!"

They were moving quite fast, with wind and wave joining forces to sweep
the little helpless craft along. Just as Bumpus had said, unless
something could be done immediately it must surely be too late; for once
they left the island behind, the whole immense inland sea would be
before them; and their hopes of surviving the storm must sink too close
upon the zero mark.

Thad was thinking as fast as he could; indeed, his very brain seemed to
be on fire, such was the mental energy he was expending. But really
there was nothing in the wide world that could be done then.

True, they had push-poles, but doubtless the depth of water would have
rendered these utterly useless, even had they started to handle them.
Nothing was to be hoped for in the direction of the engine, since that
had collapsed in the most cowardly fashion at the first swoop of the
blow.

What then?

Thad had made one little discovery that gave a slender promise of
succor; and it is strange upon what a small foundation hopes can be
built at such a time as this. He saw that the wind had shifted just a
little; but this was enough to carry the drifting launch a trifle toward
the side of the island.

Now, it did not stand to reason that they would strike, no matter how
long that shore turned out to be; because there was enough current to